Friday 29 June 2007

Goodbye to buying...

Today is my last day as buyer. I am struggling at the moment to tie up all the loose ends necessary and clean up. Its been a pretty hectic day so far. The good news is that I have finally finished the silver lame numbers (at NIDA till 11 last night - felt like old times!) so I will actually get to have a weekend! Bring it on!

Wednesday 27 June 2007

SILVER LAME OVERLOAD!

I found out at lunchtime today that I have to have 6 silver slip dresses ready for a tech rehersal tomorrow! AAGGHHH! They aren't complicated but still, 6 is a lot. Only three are patternmade and cut out. None have been fitted yet. Even if each one takes an hour, that's 6 hours work. I do however anticipate they will take longer then an hour each. There goes any life I was planning for the next 48 hours! I have to make them up tonight, ready to fit at 6pm tomorrow and then I plan to hang around in the NIDA costume department and finish the babies by 11 tomorrow night. My loungeroom is already feral but it will not only be feral but have the strange appearance of an exploded discoball by midnight tonight. Silver silver silver everywhere.

But then I will be FREE! My mind is already turning to the wonders of tudor frockage I can make when this commission is over.....

Next time I'm in France....

Magnifique!

Tuesday 26 June 2007

cheeky bugger!

I took it into the shop. I went out of my way and everything. I walk to the counter and I say " I have a problem with my phone. It seems to be stuck on volume control" and I open it up to show the lady behind the counter and GUESS WHAT? YES, ITS WORKING.
I am not unhappy about it working. I just wish it could have done it yesterday and this morning when I needed it to. And I wish it hadn't embarrassed me in the shop. I suppose at least I don't have to pay for a repair now though.

It obviously just needed a break!
At least I have an alarm clock for tomorrow....

Dependant on modern technology?

Yes. My phone is not working. It just started going crazy yesterday and I think one of the buttons is stuck. I am taking it in for a repair job today so hopefully it will be fixed soon. In the meantime I have no mobile. It feels strangely like having a body part missing. What is really annoying is the fact I have given up wearing a watch and I no longer own an alarm clock. This is in fact more annoying then not being able to contact people. Although I no longer own an address book either! So if anyone needs to contact me, its email or my home number until further notice!
I wonder how long I can survive in this modern world phoneless?

Monday 25 June 2007

That was a weekend?

Yes, as usual it flew by!

On Friday after work I went and did a fitting at NIDA for my Antony and Cleopatra frock. Its looking pretty cool now, but I am looking forward to getting it finished. Then I went off to meet the Mingers at Bligh Bar in (surprise surprise) Bligh street where we partook of some bevvys and chatted to Ms Minger’s English work colleague who was tres amusing. Then we met Nicko and walked down to the rocks with the intention of going to the Lowenbrau. Then the combo of no food, bacardi, grumpiness and tiredness combined and the clever people at the Lowenbrau thought better of allowing me entry. I can’t say I blame them. If I had knocked on my door I would not have allowed me entry either. We went into the bar behind where I proceeded to get more grumpy and finally we went home.

I woke up feeling (surprising indeed!) much better thank you very much! Neither ill nor grumpy! Hooray!
Nicko and I went in to the city for a 10.30 dress run of Barber of Seville at the Opera House which turned out to be hugely enjoyable. The music is just beautiful and we both loved the show. It was exciting for me as I had a biggish part in buying for it so it was great to see the stuff on stage. The designer is a young guy Leon who studied at WAAPA and it’s nice to see younger designers getting a chance to show what they can do. I think he did a great job.

Then, as it was $15 all day parking we took advantage of the blue sky and went for a walk in the botanic gardens and then had lunch under the toaster. It was a really lovely Saturday!

Then in the evening we went for yummy Nachos dinner at Nw and DV’s . Thank you Miss DV – I’m sorry I didn’t at the time realise you had gone to bed. I thought you had gone to check on Torby! So thank you for yummy dinner!

Then I got up yesterday and had to go to Spotlight (grumble grumble) as a result of crap supervision by a NIDA Student which left me without suitable elastic. Then I made a slip dress for Sweet Charity and kept working on the Ant and Cleo dress of doom. While doing this sewing I watched 10 episodes of The Office (and fell in lurve with Tim all over again) and the second season of Men Behaving Badly (my favorite). I also made carrot soup and minestrone soup and burritos for tea! Phew! No wonder I am tired!

So I was busy busy all weekend - and now it is gone. Come back…………

Wednesday 20 June 2007

Let them eat cake... and sew.

It was morning tea day today at work (once a month for birthdays). I ate cake and then felt sick. I also stuffed up my supposed diet. Ho hum. The challenge of cake.

I have been a bit quiet lately - no going out. No fun. And therefore no funky shows/movies to write about!

The reason for this is that I have been doing a fair bit of work. So I do have stuff to advertise! I have been making a gown for one of Cleopatra's handmaidens for NIDA's upcoming production of Anthony and Cleopatra. I am also making 7 slinky slipdresses for NIDA's 3rd year show Sweet Charity. My dresses are probably not a very interesting part of the production but Nicko is doing the sound design which is a big job as there will be an orchestra to deal with and lots of radio mikes. So I don't get to see him very often at the moment either. There are also some great actors who I have worked with in years previous performing in it. My mate Jess who played Ophelia in Hamlet last year is performing the role of Charity. The nice thing about them doing a musical is that a few people who don't always get a look in on big parts are getting a chance to show what they can do. I like that!

Work is getting busy too. I worked on Barber of Seville earlier in the year which is about to open in Sydney next week, and coming up are Tales of Hoffmann and Streetcar Named Desire which both should be amazing shows which lucky me I got to buy for. So if you feel like a night at the opera, these three shows look good at least!

So there you go. Thats why I haven't had much to post about! No social life to speak of!

I am escaping my dressmakers dummy for tonight though to pop out to meet the Mingers for TRIVIA - yay! I am going to attempt to be good so as not to feel bad tomorrow... watch this space!

Monday 18 June 2007

When you stick to your limit...

I am sitting here at lunchtime having just eaten my yummy fresh spring rolls I made last night - thanks for the tip Scruff and Laela! Now I am going to eat my yummy homemade carrot soup.

I was letting my mind wander back over the weekend and I was reflecting on the speed at which it flew past! Where does my time off go? How did I ever cope last year when I worked on weekends too?

I had a quiet night in on Friday. Nicko has a bad cold and I have a NIDA commission so too much work to do/too feeble to go out. I felt bad though as I had said I would help SJ move and I hate backing out of something like that. I did get heaps of work done though which is just as well because the dress parade is on Wednesday and the frock is bigger then I first thought.

I got up early on Saturday and went for a yummy newtown breakfast with DV. I actually made it just after 10. 40 minutes late after a few major transport setbacks. It was nice to chat and catch up though and eat yummy food someone else has cooked. Then I went home to - you guessed it - sew some more! YAY!

As well as my work sewing I also managed to finish my new french hood. It has one or two minor issues but generally worked well. It stays on my head without pins! - see longer post to come on frock blog.

On Saturday night I literally bound myself like a trussed chicken into my old tudor for the Baronial Investiture feast. I was glad I did it though - I like my old tudor. I was telling people it was "vintage". 10 years old so I should be thankful I was only a little bit too fat for it.

The feast was lovely. Nicko wore his topsy vintage (circa 1997 according to mousicles) which looks cute on him. I was glad I ate a felafel at 4 pm though because as usual vegetarian food was scarce. What there was of it was yummy though. I wish the SCA would work out though that if you pile the veggies up with the meat the vegetarians don't want to eat it. No offence to the feastocrats - it ALWAYS happens - this time at least there was a mushroom pie to go with it!

I was very well behaved and stuck to my self imposed drink limit except for one eensy weensy glass of red wine supplied by Tops. Naughty girl. BUT SUNDAY WAS HANGOVER FREE!

I really enjoyed catching up with everyone and I enjoyed that my boy had a good time. It makes such a difference being at a feast when everyone comes.
I had a big sook when H and L stepped down as B&B. I was doing so well and thinking of all the positives but then I stupidly glanced around me and EVERYONE was crying. Then I cried. girly.

So on Hangover free Sunday I did - sensing a theme yet? - more sewing. And lots of cooking. In total I made: - yummy carrot soup, yummy bean and pasta tomato (soup) glug (pasta soaked up too much liquid!), a chicken with roast potatoes and veggies (for Nicko), some yummy fresh spring rolls (experimental) and some scrambled eggs (for breakfast). It was just like being back working in the pub. I also made a dumb skirt for dumb frock for dumb NIDA. All this and I even fit in a 2 hour visit to the Mingers place - wow. Maybe I should quit drinking?!?!? You can fit so much more into a weekend!!!!

Thursday 14 June 2007

Where is my fix?

I've just been flicking through the blogs I regularly spy on and was dissapointed that hardly anyone had updated. Then I realised its been several days since I updated my blog! So I am unhappy with others for their slackness yet am more slack myself. hmm. Maybe I should go back to reading the trash mags - they update at least once a week! This is a cheaper fix though. And hopefully less sad. I do still read them in the Supermarket though...

Sunday 10 June 2007

feeble, girly, broken but happy...

I am a bit broken today. I blame MsMinger who MADE me drink cocktails. Nothing to do with yapping till 6 am... I had a lovely day yapping to a lovely friend though despite being broken.

Nicko did win at Buzz. Thats all that will be said on that matter.

And then I had a lovely evening despite the cocktail enduced feebleness. I caught up with someone I love and who hasn't been a big part of my day to day life for a few months now. Its nice to remember that whatever happens in your life and how far apart the world sometimes takes you, that true friends are always the same underneath it all. If you read this, thanks mate.

It means a lot to be reminded that there are one or two people there who just get you, no matter what way the world happens to be spinning. xxx

Saturday 9 June 2007

batten down the hatches...

Its wet and windy and horrible. I was really looking forward to going out but I don't think thats a very good idea as it is yuk yuk yukki outside. So we are going over to Mingerland to drink cocktails, eat thai and play super BUZZ. I will beat Nicko this time. I will I will I will...

Friday 8 June 2007

Its lucky its dark in the cinema.... but they can still hear you sob.

A work colleague took me to a wonderful film last night, at the old art deco Orpheum theatre in Cremorne. She had a double pass to the event, which was being held because this film, As it is in Heaven, is now the longest running, highest grossing film in the cinema’s 75 year history.

It’s the story of an internationally renowned conductor who is forced to take a break from his career and returns to the village that he left in his youth. He gets involved with the village choir and what transpires is just the most life-affirming tear-jerking laugh-provoking, heart-breaking story. I stood up and clapped at the end. So did everyone else. I don’t do that regularly at the movies! If you get a free night, I recommend a trip to Cremorne.

Monday 4 June 2007

“ Capture the flag” at the Old Fitz or Schmitz redeems himself

Nicko and I went to see Capture the Flag by Toby Schmitz on its closing at the Old Fitzroy Hotel this weekend. We were keen to go for numerous reasons : -
It sounded interesting in the blurb – three Hitler Youth members trapped beneath the city, trying to survive in the sewer as Berlin falls.
Anthony Gee from my year at NIDA was in it and I love seeing people from uni in plays!
Toby Schmitz was the author of a play at NIDA 2 years ago called Grazing the Phosphorous which was pretty awful. I don’t think this was his fault as apparently he was not available to be able to do re-writes and I think the director chopped it yup quite a lot. We thus wanted to give him another chance.

I was glad we did. “Capture the flag” was a really interesting night at the theatre. The play was well written but a little slow in places, but it did keep your interest and you were drawn in to the lives of the boys. The set was great – especially having the sewer full of real water and the Old Fitz feels like a basement anyway. The sound was really cool – Nicko’s teacher Jed was the sound designer and it really was one of those productions where you notice the sound and it really helps in building the world of the play. I was feeling thankful that I was not the costume assistant as all the characters end up in the water, bits get ripped off their clothes etc.etc. Rather them then me! Clothes were pretty good though for a small show. They did their job.
I would say go and see it, but its finished! If you want to read a more professional review, go here! But if you haven’t been, its definitely worth checking out a play or having a Laksa at the Old Fitzroy

Friday 1 June 2007

Triumph of the Sick Mingers....

Yes! We triumphed again on Wednesday at Trivia even though we were a Minger down. We were however a Scruffy up…This definately helped!
In her honour, we titled ourselves “Sick Minger”. We kicked ass! Hooray for us! Hooray for free beer! And I won a spot question tenner and the heads tail game! hooray for my tail! Hooray for more free beer!

Now I am off to the Minger household to cook dinner for the sick Minger herself. Poor girly needs cheering up! xxxxxxxx